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Chukat (2026)

Shabbat Chukat – Israel

For Diaspora, please refer to last week’s Dvar Torah for Korach

Dvar Torah – Aaron’s Caring Leadership
In this week's portion, the Torah records the death of Aaron, the High Priest. Describing the nation's grief, the Torah recounts that "the entire house of Israel" wept for him. Compared to Moses later passing, the wording is different. There it is simply "the children of Israel" who mourn.

The difference is subtle, but the Torah's language is never accidental. Why was Aaron mourned by the entire house of Israel?

Rashi, quoting the Midrash explains that this means that everyone - men and the women alike mourned Aaron. Beyond serving in the Tabernacle, Aaron devoted his life to pursuing peace between a person and his fellow, and between husband and wife. He would move quietly between estranged parties until resentment melted away and relationships were restored. This leadership of tenderness and care was mourned by all.

There is something humbling here. Moses was the unparalleled leader, the one who split the sea, ascended Sinai and brought the Torah down to the people. And yet, to the ordinary person, it was Aaron passing that cut the deepest. The Torah isn't ranking the two brothers; it is teaching us that a nation needs both: the towering teacher and the gentle peacemaker.

The Torah is reminding us here that the quiet work of bringing people together is not a lesser kind of leadership. It may be what people remember most.

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 19:07/20:30
Tel-Aviv 19:28/20:30
Budapest 20:26/21:47
Paris 21:40/23:04
NYC 20:12/21:21
Calgary 21:36/23:08
Lima 17:34/18:26
More Shabbat times

Shabbat Shalom!




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